Air compressor with high turbulence head



June 28, 1960 Filed July 1, 1957 P. V. WYSONG, JR

AIR COMPRESSOR WITH HIGH TURBULENCE HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 28, 1960 P. v. WYSONG, JR

AIR COMPRESSOR WITH HIGH TURBULENCE HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1957 INVENTOR Zf/gxrozz ,JZ

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,942,775 Patented June 28, 1960 2,942,775 AIR COMPRESSOR WITXIDHIGH TURBULENCE Paul V. Wysong, Jr., Saginaw, Mich., assignor to General- Motors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware .Filed July 1, 1957, Ser. No. 669,340

11 Claims. (Cl. 230-238) This invention relates to air compressors of the reciprocating piston type and, in particular, to a high turbulence head for use therewith for reducing if not eliminating the pulsing noise of such compressors while aiding in the transfer of heat from the head thereof.

Air compressors of the type herein contemplated normally include a cylinder in which a piston is reciprocably driven to compress air, suitable inlet means being provided for supplying air to the interior of the cylinder while suitable valve means such as a reed or flap-type valve controls the exhaust port from the cylinder. As the piston reciprocates,a pulsing noise results from the periodic compression and exhaust of air. Moreover, considerable heat is generated within the cylinder and the cylinder head into which the exhaust air passes from the cylinder. As will be apparent, it is quite desirable to suppress this pulsing noise and dissipate the heat generated as rapidly as possible.

It is, therefore, a general object and feature of this invention to provide a head for an air compressor in which the kinetic energy of the pulsing air exhausted from the compressor is substantially reduced.

It is another object and feature of this invention to provide a high turbulence head for -an air compressor of the reciprocating piston type which includes passage means for directing masses of air exhausted from the compressor to a point within the head where they collide to reduce their kinetic energy and suppress the noise level of the compressor.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a high turbulence head for an air compressor of the reciprocating piston type which includes a plurality of air passages each in communication with an exhaust port communicating with the interior of the compressor cylinder, which passages converge within the compressor head so that the exhaust masses expelled through the respective ports will collide to reduce their kinetic energy.

Moreover, it is intended to provide a high turbulence head of the type aforementioned in which an air diffusion or silencer chamber is placed in communication with the point of convergence of the respective air passages, and a silencer tube is placed within this chamber for silencing the air passing therethrough,

Moreover, it is intended to provide a high turbulence head for an air compressor in which masses of exhaust air collide and are so intermingled as to have intimate contact with the wall of the compressor head thereby substantially aiding in the transfer of heat therethrough.

These and other features, objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds and in which reference is made to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational cross section of a compressor of the reciprocating piston type equipped with the high turbulence head of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the silencer or air diffuser tube utilized in the high turbulence head.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a more or less conventional air compressor of the reciprocating piston type which includes a cylinder 2 in which the piston 4 is reciprocably driven by a crank 6, in turn driven by the shaft 8 operatively connected to the pulley 10 which may be driven by any suitable power source. A valve plate 12 having at least two exhaust ports 14 and 16 is disposed over and closes the end of the cylinder 2. Reed type or flap-valves 18 and 20 are secured in any suitable manner such as by the screws 22 to the valve plate 12 control the one-way passage of compressed air from the interior of the cylinder 2 into a high turbulence chamber formed in the high turbulence head 24 which is secured over the valve plate.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 2 and 3, the individual air passages 26 and 28 may be seen to be formed within the high turbulence head for individual communication with the respective exhaust ports 14 and 16 while converging adjacent the upper wall of the head to form a high turbulence air chamber 30. Each passage may be seen to include a relatively large circular opening 32 and 34 which overlie the respective exhaust ports 14 and 16 for receiving the masses of air exhausted therethrough. The respective air passages then taper upwardly to form a more constricted cross section as indicated at 36 and 38. The respective passages then curve toward and converge upon each other to form the high turbulence chamber 30 as indicated clearly in Figure 3.

An interior wall structure 40 which in part defines and separates the respective passages 26 and 28 has a bore 42 therethrough forming a diffusion chamber in fluid communication with the high turbulence air chamber 30 through a rectangular port 44. A silencer tube 46 is disposed within the diffusion chamber and includes a cylindrical wall 48 having a plurality of spaced apertures 50 formed therein for establishing communication between the air ditfusion chamber and an interior bore 52 extending through the tube. At one end, an annular flange or shoulder 54 is formed on the tube to maintain the wall 48 thereof radially spaced from the wall of the bore 42 whereby air may fiow completely around the tube. The bore 52 of the silencer tube is in open communication with a port 56 formed inside of the compressor head for supplying air therefrom to a suitable receiver or work device.

It will also be noted that a plurality of fins 58 are formed on the side walls of the compressor cylinder, valve plate and compressor head to facilitate the transfer of heat generated by the compressor to the atmosphere.

It will be readily appreciated that in operation atmospheric or other air is drawn into the cylinder 2 through suitable inlet valve means. As the piston cycles, masses of air will be periodically exhausted through the respective ports 14 and 16 as controlled by the valves 18 and 20. These masses of air will be propelled at relatively high velocities through the passages 26 and 28 to the chamber 30 in which a condition of high turbulence will occur which has the practical result of reducing pulse this collision of air, an additional advantage is provided by this construction in that an unusually high percent of heat ordinarilyencountered in the head of a compressor 3 of this type is dissipated due to the collision of the air and the attendant intimate contact between the air and the walls of passages in the Compressor head.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a simple and compact assembly incorporated within the head of an air compressor for reducingt-he noise level of such compressors while materially aiding in the dissipation of heat therefrom. While but one form of the invention has been selected to depict the invention, other forms will be apparent to those skilled in the art; therefore, the form shown in the drawing is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow.

1 claim:

1. An air compressor comprising a cylinder including a plurality of compressed air exhaust ports at one end thereof, a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, at high'turbulenc'e head at said one end of said cylinder, a plurality of individual air passages in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports, said passages converging in said head to form a high turbulence chamber in which masses of air from said exhausts collide, and an air discharge port in communication with said chamber.

2. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, a plurality of exhaust ports communicating said cylinder with the interior of said head, a plurality of individual air passages in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports, said passages converging in said head to form a high turbulence chamber in which masses of air from said exhausts collide, a diffusing chamber in communication with said high turbulence chamber, a diffuser tube in said dilfusing chamber, porting means on said tube communicating the interior of the latter to said difl'nsing chamber, and an air discharge port in communication with said tube.

3. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, a plurality of exhaust ports communicating said cylinder with the interior of said head, a plurality of air passages in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports, said passages decreasing in cross sectional area and converging in said head whereby masses of air from said exhausts collide at relatively high velocities, a difiusing chamber in communication with the colliding air masses, a diffuser tube in said chamber, said tube including a plurality of spaced apertures, and an air discharge port in communication with said tube.

4. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, two ports communicating said cylinder with the interior of said head, a substantially U-shaped passage in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports whereby masses of air from said exhausts collide, a diffusing chamber in communication with the colliding air masses, a difiuser tube in said chamber, said tube including a plurality of spaced apertures, and an air discharge port communicating with said tube.

5. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, a plurality of compressed air exhaust ports communicating said cylinder with the interior or said head, a plurality of individual compressed air passages in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports,

said passages converging in said head whereby masses of air from said exhaust ports collide, a diffusion chambeer in communication with the colliding air masses, a silencer within said chamber and including a wall portion radially inwardly spaced from the wall of said diifusion chamber, a plurality of apertures in said silencer wall establishing communication between said chamber and the interior of said silencer, and an air discharge port in communication with the interior of said silencer.

6. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, a plurality of compressed air exhaust ports communicating said cylinder with the interior of said head, a plurality of individual compressed air passages in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports, said passages converging in said head whereby masses of air from said exhaust ports collide, a diffusion chamber in communication with the colliding air masses, a silencer tube within said chamber and including a cylindrical wall portion radially inwardly spaced from the Wall of said diffusion chamber, a plurality of spaced apertures in said tube wall establishing communication between said chamber and said tube, and an air discharge port in communication with said tube.

7. A high turbulence head for an air compressor of the type comprising a piston reciprocating within a cylinder, said head including an air diffusing chamber, a silencer tube disposed within said chamber, said tube comprising a cylindrical wall portion spaced from the wall of said chamber and forming a bore communicating with an air outlet, a plurality of spaced apertures through the wall of said tube, a plurality of individual converging air passages formed within said head, the area of convergence of said passages being in communication with said diffusion chamber, and an exhaust port for conducting com pressed air from said cylinder to each of said passages.

8. In combination with an air compressor comprising an air compressing chamber having a plurality of compressed air outlets, sound dilfusing means including a plurality of individual air passages respectively connected to said outlets and converging upon each other, a sounddifiusing chamber in communication with the area of convergence of said passages, a cylinder disposed within said chamber, a plurality of spaced apertures in the wall of said cylinder, and an air discharge port communicating with said cylinder. v

'9. An air compressor comprising a cylinder including a plurality of compressed air exhaust ports at one end thereof, a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, a high turbulence head at said one end of said cylinder, a plurality of individual air passages in said head in cornrnunication with the respective exhaust ports, "said passages decreasing in cross sectional area and converging in said head to form a high turbulence chamber in which masses of air from said exhaust ports collide at relatively high velocities, and an air discharge port in communestion with said chamber.

10. An air compressor comprising a cylinder including a pair of compressed air exhaust ports at one end thereof, a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, a high 'turb'u lence head at said one end of said cylinder, a substantially U-shaped passage said head in communication with said exhaust ports to form a high turbulence chamber in which masses of air from said exhaust ports collide at relatively high velocities, and an air discharge port in communication with said chamber.

ll. An air compressor comprising a cylinder including apair of compressed air exhaust ports at one end thereof,

a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, a high turbulence head at said one end of saidcylinder, a substan tially U-shaped passage in said head in communication with the respective exhaust ports, each leg of said passages decreasing in cross sectional area whereby masses of air from said exhausts collide at relatively high velocities in a high turbulence chamber, and an air'discharge port in communication with said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 15,833 ern Ma s, n24 698,400 Garrison Apr. 22, 1962 947,536 Wenkel Jan. 25, 1910 1,001,305 Rix Aug. 22,1911 2,136,097 Browne News, i938" 

